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Jerome "Jerry" Clifford Barney

May 31, 1938 ~ July 9, 2019 (age 81)

Obituary & Services

Tribute Wall

Obituary

Jerome Clifford Barney, 81, a resident of Fergus Falls MN died Tuesday July 9, 2019, at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.

Jerry was born May 31, 1938 at home in his grandmother’s house in Stewart, MN to Clifford and Dolores Barney. He graduated from Stewart High School in 1956 and received his bachelor’s degree from Augsburg College in Minneapolis.

Jerry married Lois Isaacson on August 31, 1963. Two daughters were born to this union: Jill and Sara.

Jerry was employed as a newspaper writer and editor to support his family and his Bluegrass habit. He worked at newspapers in Wisconsin, New York, and Minnesota. When not writing paper articles, Jerry was writing music, having penned well over 600 songs. Jerry was also an accomplished musician, capable of performing nearly any tune imaginable on the guitar, autoharp, or upright bass. Jerry was legendary and will be missed in the Upper Midwest Bluegrass scene. Most summer weekends, Jerry could be found performing into the wee hours of the morning at a Bluegrass festival, sleeping in his car after the sun rose and waking himself with a swim in whatever local lake he could find.

Jerry is survived by his wife of nearly 56 years, Lois of Fergus Falls; daughter Jill (Jesse) Thorstad of Fergus Falls and their children, Kai (Megan), Siri, Deborah, Joshua, and James; Sara (Chad) Tate and their children, Zach (Kayla), Caleb (Dani), and Josiah; musical protege and “adopted” daughter Laura (Jack) Buendgen and a brother, Kevin (Sonia Jacques) Barney. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Dolores and a brother, Dwight Barney.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 13 at 11:00 AM at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, with a memorial gathering one hour prior to the service, followed by a celebratory Bluegrass jam session to be held at Delagoon Park in Fergus Falls.

Clergy: Pastor Duane Smith

Funeral arrangements are with the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls